August Story Contest

My Mustang
By: ellie renneberg2
Age: 10

I looked at the bronco, standing in the corral. He looked at me from the corner of his eye. I grabbed a carrot and a lasso. Then I walked to him.

I held out my hand, the carrot placed in it. He looked at it nervously, then chomped it up. There was my chance. I slipped the lasso over his head. He didn't seem to notice. I held out my hand and stroked his shoulder.

He stopped chewing the carrot. He turned and saw me patting him. I took of my hand. He leapt from his hindquarters into a powerful rear.
I let go of the lasso and stumbled out of the corral.


"Come again?" My best friend, Isabelle, looked over her ponies saddle and stared at me. " No improvement?" I shook my head.
"Nothing" she shook her head and tangled her fingers in stars mane.
I looked into the mustangs corral to see him pacing back and fourth.
"Don't worry Sophie, you caught him, you can train him. You'll be fine!"
I wasn't so sure.

I whistled as I emptied oats into a plastic feed bin. Today was the day. Like I was going to be so afraid! I measured half a liter of oats, and brought out a feed container.

I undid a loop in the lasso, and took a deep breath. I placed the oats on the arena fence, and stuck it in place. He walked to the bucket, stuck his head into it and crunched happily. I slipped the lasso over his neck and did it up. I stroked his shoulder. He looked up from his feed. He sprung into a powerful rear, again. This time I didn't move. He looked at me, as if to say, " Why aren't you afraid?'' I reassumed, stroking his shoulder. He calmed down. From that moment on, we were a pair.


The days heat was stronger, and so was our trust. I was training him, which was quite easy. Bit by bit he got used to controls of the bit.

It was truly amazing.

I laughed out loud and sat deeper in the saddle. Two weeks, and I was already riding him. It was great.  I put my arms around is neck and thought of a name. "Star" I whispered. " Your name is Star." I nudged him, and we canter down the paddock.

Me and Star were truly a pair. I rode him, I fed him by hand, I groomed him, and I rode him. Even my parents trusted him.
All until one spook.

After winning blue at our first show, the ribbon hanging from his bridle, we rode down the paddock. The wind was strong. I dropped my reins and hung my arms around stars neck. The wind blew harder. The ribbon blew of his bridle, and fluttered in front of his face. He pig rooted. I flew over his head, and felt pain in every single part of my body. Everything went black.


I woke up on my bed,  surrounded by my parents. They had sad looks on their faces.
"Star" I said suddenly. "Where is Star?"
"Don't worry, honey. we un tacked him, and put him in the paddock.
" I have to see him" I sat up, but lost my strength and flopped back down. Mum put her hand on my arm.
"Rest" she said. "you can see him tomorrow., but" She looked at dad and he looked at the roof. " We think the best thing to do is to,”
Her voice trailed off.
I found my strength and sat up. " what?"
She sighed. "the best thing is to remove the problem."
I gasped. "NO! YOU CAN'T! HE IS MY HORSE, AND I LOVE HIM! I sobbed into my pillow.
"It was one little spook, one little fall. All horses spook, everyone falls.


"They can't do this" I sobbed into Stars mane. "You’re too perfect to let go."
Star nudged me and I threw my arms around his neck.
"you'll never be sold. I promise."


CRASH! it woke me up.
CRASH! Something was wrong. i got dressed, and ran downstairs. I ran to Stars corral.
One problem. He was gone!


There was a major hole in the fence. I followed hoof prints up to a hole. The prints led to the bush. Suddenly, I heard a whinny, followed bye many more. I ran up to some rocks and sat on one log. There was a big herd of horses, grazing. Star was amongst them. He looked up and saw me. He whinnied and galloped up to me. I hugged his neck. He pressed his jaw into my back, in the horses version of a hug.
"Goodbye, Star" I whispered. "Don't forget me."
He nudged me one more time, and galloped home.
A single, happy tear of my experience with Star fell down my face.......